I really don't want to talk about this race. I know I haven't been running much and trying to keep my cardio up with biking etc, but it just isn't the same. No, nope, not. Keep in mind, last year I paced 1:45 easily and chatting and the year before hit 1:36...yeah, this race sucked.
I enjoyed visiting and running over with Marci and QP and started in the back around the 3:00 pacers just to take the pressure off. I knew I could hit a sub 1:40, I KNEW it. I was going to do it.
I eased into it limping on my leg and after a mile or so finally fell into a groove. Kelli passed me around 1.5 and I was confused...she'd had a screw in her shoe she had to take out. YIKES! She was catching up to pace 1:45 with Bill. I figured I should catch and pass her. So, I slowly dragged her in over the next couple miles and around 4 was maybe 20 seconds behind her. I wanted to catch her, but I just couldn't I was giving it my all and coming up at 7:44-7:50 paces. Then the real hills hit. I was still hitting 7:57-8:10 (the worst at mile 7) which is pretty good pace for me on hills. I was then excited for the downhill and ready to finally take over Kelli!
Then, I died. Seriously. Mile 9 was it. I was done. I had no more go. My pace splits show it horribly. I went from my steady 7:50 to 8:30, 8:40, 8:50....it was a nightmare. My legs were just done. poo. I've lost my speed AND my endurance. I wanted to walk, but willed myself to keep running. Mile 10.5 I wanted to stop and barf. Mile 11ish I remember doing positive talk with Kaylee the year previous and getting her through those miles. I started saying the same CRAP to myself. Mile 12 I realized I should be grateful for even being here running and to shut up and just finish. The final .1 stretch came. Kick it in and sprint...nope. nothing. I had nothing left to give. My legs were dead lead bags hanging off my hips and it was all I could do to keep my pace. I hadn't looked at my watch, I just knew Kelli was gone and so was my race. 1:47....wow, I suck. Poo! I was NOT happy with my time and felt like crap for something so slow for me.
I finally realized that for not running as much as I have it was actually a pretty good race. Doesn't mean I like it. Doesn't mean I accept my failure. Doesn't mean I don't want to kick someone's dog about it. But, I'll survive and try to learn and grow from this one too. I feel like I have a lot of learning/growing races recently and nothing to really celebrate.
*sigh*
I then went back to run my sister in, but I'd barely missed her and I didn't know it until I was a mile back on the course and my husband called and said she was at the hotel. What the crap?!? So, I missed/hated my race AND I missed my sister. Ugh. I'm done....walked back to the hotel, alone.
That afternoon we went to Turtle wall for Craig to climb and my calf was hurting SO bad I seriously wanted to puke. I hate this stupid leg injury. Please get better!!
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